By Amy Shores
Director of Pastoral Care at Methodist Family Health
– Amy Shores, director of pastoral care at Methodist Family Health
Methodist Family Health has two residential treatment centers, one in Little Rock at the Methodist Children’s Home, and one in Bono, which is in Craighead County. Our RTC programs are for youth ages 6 to 17 (trending older), and students can be referred by various sources, including parents, churches, schools or mental health clinics. A typical stay at our RTC is 4-to-6 months, and while in treatment, the students focus on individual, group and recreational therapy.
We are very proud to be in our new residential treatment center in Little Rock, which opened in September 2018. Here, clients have their own rooms along with shared living, dining and recreational spaces. Because students need to continue schoolwork while at the RTC, we also have classrooms, and this school follows the Little Rock School District calendar.
Staff members at the RTC include behavioral instructors, therapists, doctors, nurses, administrators, teachers, and dining and housekeeping staff – all working together to ensure all students receive the best possible treatment for their mental disorders while learning new ways to cope with problems they may face at school, home or in the community.
Students at the RTC can eventually earn outings as part of their treatment along with weekend passes to return home to work on the skills they are learning.
However, at least for the first several weeks, it’s difficult for most of our clients to have enough time at home to be able to attend church. We have a weekly Bible study, and we also try to have at least one volunteer group come in each month to lead a Sunday service for our students.
Several local churches have also opened their doors to our students to visit youth areas on a Saturday pass or to occasionally join an activity with their youth.
If you are interested in volunteering to host our RTC students, or if you have any adults or youth who would like to lead a service at one of our RTCs, please contact Amy Shores, director of pastoral care, at ashores@methodistfamily.org.